Cardinal Golf Club - West

I have been going to this course for years, always a great time. This particular time I had run into a starter that I have heard about from friends and colleagues. He was very snappy and condescending, not what I have come to expect from this course (especially when you're paying so much). That experience set the tone for the rest of the day; luckily, the rest of the staff was very professional and did well to make my guests feel welcomed.

Course is kept in good / very good condition. It was only a 30 min drive from downtown to the course. I would consider it good value with a great on course range, two practice greens, new carts and an interesting lay out if not the longest. Especially compared to courses closer to the city.

- A note for the course -

Having booked online it seemed the marshals (of which there were 3 or 4 sat at the first tee) hadn’t updated their starting lists. A pair had been put in our place, however they said for us to go ahead instead of them. That meant our playing partners had to wait on the tee for that to be sorted - No matter, the group in front were still taking their second shots. After the third of our group of four had tee’d off we were shouted by the starter to speed up our pace of play (at the time it was taken lightly, on the assumption it was said in jest - I could have been wrong...)

The carts are GPS tracked to help with POP and thru 10 holes we were 50 mins behind, the group following us had started hitting into us and nearly hit our playing partner without any fore warning.

The group in front - that were holding everyone back due to fishing many balls out of every hazard and taking three balls off the tee each - were asked if they could find a way to pick up the pace a little. Their excuse was that they were walking.

At no point was one of the gaggle of POP conscious marshals from the first tee visible on the course. Only continued warnings from the in-cart screen.

The old man who was the starter at the club entrance was extremely rude and unwelcoming, giving me and my university aged friends a hard time and blatantly insulting our entire generation because we arrived on time (he expected us to all be 10 minutes early). furthermore one of the members of our group was a beginner (and middle eastern) and didn't have his own clubs, and wasn't aware he had to rent his own (no sharing clubs at this place!) and was called an idiot who needs to read the rules. He at one point called our group lazy slackers (ironic since we are university students all with internships at major Toronto firms), so we asked to speak to his manager, and asked for his name which he didn't give (claiming he was the manager). he then threatened to cancel our reservation and still charge us because we weren't respecting him (despite the fact WE WE APOLOGIZED TO HIM for being "late" and not knowing the rules).

It really set a negative tone for the rest of our day, and ruined a first timers experience with the sport. I doubt he will ever want to play again.

The course itself was mediocre overall. we heard the constant barking of dogs in the distance throughout our day, and the cart paths were riddled with potholes. we were also told the refreshment cart would be on the course and we weren't allowed to bring outside food/drinks onto the course (totally reasonable). Over the four hour period we played 18 holes, and didn't see the cart once, essentially leaving us with no water or refreshments on a 33C day.

Always a pleasure to play cardinal and the staff was friendly while taking the covid precautions.

first tee was number 10 cause of this pandemic.

I understand safety comes first.

behind foursome slow play all through 18 holes.

which i spoke with stater at number 10.

and number 17..

no Marshall or staff around to ask.

it was along day of golf..

This is a beautiful course, but it seems too busy, it's like they are double booked or something

This course is designed for high volume play and tournaments. The layout is average, mostly back and forth. Conditions were decent. The staff is friendly and efficient.

It was October 29 so I understand it’s difficult for the course to maintain, but leaves were literally everywhere. One par 3 was completely covered Tee to green. They were understaffed and the pace of play was ridiculously slow. But... end of season so understandable. The staff that was there was very friendly despite being so busy. All in all great course would definitely play again.

We enjoyed the round, but the GPS wasn't working properly, and we weren't sure about the cart path rules for the day. The first hole had a sign saying "90 degree rules apply", but a few times the cart locked and said "cart path only". No one advised us of anything before we left the clubhouse.

Cardinal always come through. Good courses well maintained, would recommend